Agency merger nears

No official word, but at least a couple of news organizations are reporting that the William Morris/Endeavor deal, in the works for months, finally will be announced early this week. It would be the largest agency marriage in Hollywood history (the merged firm will be called WME). Variety says that Endeavor sent tech support people to WMA's headquarters to begin figuring out compatibility issues.

Heading into the weekend, there was high anxiety among agents in both shops who suspect they will not be invited to join the new venture. Though most haven't been told, insiders said the tenpercenters who fear they may be let go face a conundrum. Do they wait to be laid off, so they can collect time on their contracts that might mean two years of salary, or do they leave preemptively with their clients in tow, to prevent their bosses from reaching out to those clients to persuade them to stay with the agency and introducing them to new agents.